Newly released body camera footage documents the moments preceding Seattle police fatally shooting an armed suspect in the SODO neighbourhood last week.
“The King County Sheriff’s Office Independent Investigations Team has authorised the Seattle Police Department to release the following video that provides a brief overview of what occurred,” Seattle police stated on its public information page.
The incident unfolded on 30 October at the intersection of 4th Avenue South and South Holgate Street. Immediately before the shooting, officers encountered a man possessing an edged weapon, according to police accounts. Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes confirmed that non-lethal force was deployed initially but proved ineffective in resolving the confrontation.
“I can confirm that shots were fired from officers. Prior to that, officers deployed what we call a 40-millimetre non-lethal impact weapon,” Barnes explained, noting that three officers participated in the incident overall.
A launcher-type weapon with a shell resembling larger ammunition such as a 40mm round could be observed lying in the centre of South Holgate Street, left undisturbed by investigators documenting the scene.
All involved officers escaped injury during the confrontation.
The shooting represents the first critical officer-involved incident since the termination of the Consent Decree, Barnes noted.
Following the decree’s conclusion in early September, the King County Sheriff’s Office operates under a memorandum of understanding to evaluate critical incidents involving Seattle police personnel.
Seattle police policy mandates the department release video “providing a general overview of what occurred” within 72 hours following any officer-involved shooting.
“Under state law, the release of information relating to the 30 October officer-involved shooting investigation is being managed by the King County Sheriff’s Office, which is serving as an Independent Investigative Team for SPD,” the department wrote in its public statement.
Based on the Seattle Police Department’s exit from the Federal Consent Decree in September 2025, the department must now adhere to Washington state law for any use of deadly force by an officer. When Seattle police operated under the consent decree, investigations of deadly force use were handled internally by the department, as permitted by Washington state law. Now that the consent decree has been lifted, the agency must engage an independent organisation to investigate deadly force incidents.
The city of Seattle has contracted with the King County Sheriff’s Office to function as the independent agency investigating deadly force cases. State law requires the independent agency to manage information release regarding police uses of deadly force.
Whilst city policy directs police to release videos within 72 hours of deadly force use, Seattle police must now obtain King County Sheriff’s Office approval before releasing such footage.
“SPD continues to collaborate with KCSO to obtain approval to release information that will not compromise their independent criminal investigation. SPD will release additional information as soon as possible, consistent with the department’s commitment to transparency and legitimacy, as allowed under state law,” the department’s statement indicates.
The policy shift reflects the changed oversight landscape following federal consent decree termination. The consent decree, imposed following a Department of Justice investigation that found patterns of excessive force and biased policing, established federal oversight of Seattle police reform efforts spanning more than a decade.
Federal monitoring ended after the court determined Seattle police had achieved substantial compliance with reform requirements including use of force policies, accountability systems, and community engagement practices. The decree’s conclusion transferred certain oversight responsibilities from federal monitors to state-mandated processes.
Washington’s independent investigation requirement, established through state legislation, aims to address concerns about police agencies investigating their own use of force incidents. The law recognises that agency self-investigation can undermine public confidence even when conducted thoroughly and impartially.
King County Sheriff’s Office investigators will examine all aspects of the 30 October incident, including the decision-making process leading to deadly force use, whether less-lethal options were appropriately deployed, and whether officers’ actions aligned with department policy and legal standards.
The investigation will consider factors including the nature of the threat officers faced, the sequence of events, verbal commands issued, the suspect’s response to non-lethal force, and the timeframe within which decisions were made under potentially volatile circumstances.
Once the independent investigation concludes, findings will be forwarded to prosecutors for review regarding potential criminal charges. Separately, Seattle police will conduct an administrative review examining whether officers followed department policies and whether any policy modifications are warranted based on the incident.
The body camera footage release represents partial transparency whilst the investigation continues. Complete information including additional camera angles, witness statements, and investigative findings will emerge as the process advances.
Chief Barnes has emphasised the department’s commitment to transparency within legal constraints, acknowledging that communities deserve information about how police use force whilst recognising that premature disclosure could compromise investigative integrity.
The intersection where the shooting occurred sits in an industrial area with significant pedestrian and vehicle traffic during business hours. The location’s characteristics may factor into investigative assessments of public safety considerations and tactical decisions officers confronted.
Seattle police have faced ongoing scrutiny regarding use of force practices despite consent decree compliance. Each shooting incident renews debates about training adequacy, de-escalation effectiveness, mental health crisis response, and whether sufficient alternatives exist to deadly force in confrontations with armed individuals.
The department has implemented various reforms including crisis intervention training, expanded mental health co-responder programmes, revised use of force policies emphasising de-escalation, and enhanced accountability mechanisms. Whether these measures functioned as intended during the 30 October incident will likely receive examination as details emerge.
